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How much does a $200 Shopsmith cost?

Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 9:43 am
by paulrussell
A while back I bought a small CNC machine (see the BluumaxCNC thread) with dreams of making wooden clocks & puzzles. However prepared wood of the right dimensions is expensive so I decided to buy basic woodworking tools, which led me to buy a $200 model 500.
As you can see in my signature, I quickly discovered a newfound interest in both woodworking & Shopsmith. Not counting blades & similar expendibles, I've spent 7 or 8 times my initial investment on SPTs, a dust collecter, and upgrades.
So then my wife sees a few of the ways my new interest has helped around the house & decides its not so bad, and offers to convert a room (bedroom or former 'kids den' in basement) into a workshop.
Meanwhile, I'm looking at how much more I could do with a more capable CNC, which would cost about the same as my entire SS collection. (Anyone interested in a used but well-loved Bluumax?)
So now me and the Mrs are thinking that a 'real' workshop is the best answer, but we can't add on or build a outbuilding due to local ordinances.
Answer? New house. (new to us, not new build.) of course this isn't ONLY because of workshop needs, but it was the proberbial last straw.
So how much does a $200 Shopsmith cost? :)

Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 9:59 am
by horologist
Paul,

Look at it this way... considering the depressed property values, a larger house is now cheaper than before the crash and will appreciate more than your current smaller house. If you are patient your $200 Shopsmith may make you money. :D

What CNC are you considering? I am seriously considering a Sherline system. Eventually I would like to have a manual Bridgeport as well but currently have no space for 2400lb of cast iron.

Troy

Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 10:00 am
by 8iowa
I think this is called the law of "unintended consequences".

Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 10:03 am
by 8iowa
Horologist:

Hasn't anyone ever suggested that you need to build a new shop?

Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 10:04 am
by wlhayesmfs
I don't know for sure how much a $200 dollar Ss cost but I bet you my wife can tell you. Since in the last month I picked up that really nice 520 with sawtrain, jointer, biscuit jointer plus, a 510 with bandsaw,strip sander and jointer, a 500 with jointer, 6" belt sander, jig saw, and three boxes of extra with this one. I have gotten about 6 disks for sanding and appox. 30 table saw blades mostly high quality. This was on top of the 510, brownie and 5 ER's I already had. Got most of then cleaned up and starting to really enjoy my shop. No room for a car but a great shop. Good thing I have a large carport. That works also as an extended shop on good day. :D

Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 10:07 am
by horologist
8iowa wrote:Horologist:

Hasn't anyone ever suggested that you need to build a new shop?
Never! Build a shop when I have a perfectly good laundry room?

Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 10:17 am
by paulrussell
horologist wrote:Paul,

Look at it this way... considering the depressed property values, a larger house is now cheaper than before the crash and will appreciate more than your current smaller house. If you are patient your $200 Shopsmith may make you money. :D

What CNC are you considering? I am seriously considering a Sherline system. Eventually I would like to have a manual Bridgeport as well but currently have no space for 2400lb of cast iron.

Troy
Yes, it took a while but I finally got my wife to realize that the depression on the value of homes can be to your advantage. So what if our house has dropped $35k in value. If the house we are buying has dropped even more (i.e. a bigger house) we come out ahead. Sometimes it takes a while for logic to outweigh the initial gut reaction.
As far as CNC - I'd love a mill such as a sherline, but I'm probably going with a wood routing system with a bigger table. I'm looking at something along the lines of the FinelineAutomation FLA-100M a 24x36" table with a 4" z-axis.
But I would like to be able someday to cut metal as well. I might end up with a small Taig.

Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 10:33 am
by robinson46176
paulrussell wrote:Yes, it took a while but I finally got my wife to realize that the depression on the value of homes can be to your advantage. So what if our house has dropped $35k in value. If the house we are buying has dropped even more (i.e. a bigger house) we come out ahead. Sometimes it takes a while for logic to outweigh the initial gut reaction.
As far as CNC - I'd love a mill such as a sherline, but I'm probably going with a wood routing system with a bigger table. I'm looking at something along the lines of the FinelineAutomation FLA-100M a 24x36" table with a 4" z-axis.
But I would like to be able someday to cut metal as well. I might end up with a small Taig.


I have been thinking of getting a new hatchet... :D :D
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No matter what the level it is always good to be wishing for something. :)
.
.

Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 10:38 am
by paulrussell
robinson46176 wrote:I have been thinking of getting a new hatchet... :D :D
I have my great-grandpa's hatchet. Over the years we've had to replace the handle twice, and the head once, but it is so nice to have something that great-grandpa used with his own hands.



;)

Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 12:01 pm
by JPG
[quote="paulrussell"]I have my great-grandpa's hatchet. Over the years we've had to replace the handle twice, and the head once, but it is so nice to have something that great-grandpa used with his own hands.



]

Why does this sound familiar?:confused: